# What can you do with a Media and Communications degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/media-and-communications/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Media and Communications degree commonly leads to roles such as communications assistant, social media coordinator and pR assistant. Five years after graduating, Media and Communications graduates had median earnings of £27,400 (middle half: £22,300–£33,700), and 85.5% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Media, journalism and communications graduates is information and communication (20.2% of those in work).

Media and communications degrees mix theory with production or PR pathways. First jobs are often assistant-level. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Media and Communications degree?

- **Communications assistant**: Supports a comms team with drafts, clipping, and channel calendars. Skills often asked for: drafting, media lists, intranet posts.
- **Social media coordinator**. Skills often asked for: scheduling, community replies, asset specs.
- **PR assistant**. Skills often asked for: press lists, event sign-in, coverage logs.
- **Production assistant**. Skills often asked for: call sheets, releases, kit lists.

## Where do Media and Communications graduates work?

Media, journalism and communications graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | 20.2% | £31,800 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 14.2% | £31,500 |
| Wholesale and retail | 12.5% | £25,600 |
| Education | 9.2% | £27,800 |
| Administrative and support services | 8.1% | £28,400 |
| Health and social work | 5.7% | £25,300 |
| Hospitality (accommodation and food) | 5.2% | £23,100 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 4.4% | £27,800 |

## How much do Media and Communications graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Media studies (CAH24-01-05). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £21,600 | £15,700–£25,300 | 84.8% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £25,600 | £20,900–£30,400 | 85.8% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £27,400 | £22,300–£33,700 | 85.5% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £32,600 | £24,200–£43,900 | 85.8% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Media, journalism and communications graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [Loughborough University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/loughborough-university/) | £40,300 | 55 |
| [Goldsmiths, University of London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/goldsmiths-university-of-london/) | £36,600 | 80 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £32,900 | 55 |
| [Newcastle University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/newcastle-university/) | £32,400 | 70 |
| [Cardiff University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/cardiff-university/) | £32,200 | 110 |
| [University of Greenwich](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-greenwich/) | £32,200 | 55 |
| [University of Leeds](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-leeds/) | £32,200 | 95 |
| [University of Sussex](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-sussex/) | £32,200 | 115 |
| [Bournemouth University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/bournemouth-university/) | £31,800 | 390 |
| [University of Portsmouth](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-portsmouth/) | £31,800 | 95 |

## Is Media and Communications the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to study audiences, platforms, and messages together.
- You like making things (copy, cuts, social) and then explaining why.
- You can take editorial feedback without collapsing.

It may not suit you if:
- You expected a guaranteed on-air job.
- You dislike theory essays as well as production deadlines.
- You wanted a pure computer-science degree.

## Interview questions for Media and Communications graduate roles

Communications, PR and production-assistant interviews usually test accuracy under a deadline and how you work with other people’s words. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- A draft quote from a spokesperson does not match the facts you have. What next? (What it tests: You check before it goes out.)
- You have three hours to turn a long report into a social post and an email. How do you start? (What it tests: Audience and the one sentence that is actually new.)
- A contributor wants to change a piece after it is scheduled. How do you handle that? (What it tests: Process, versioning, and who has sign-off.)
- How would you credit an image you did not take? (What it tests: Rights and attribution as non-optional.)
- The live event overruns. What do you protect in the run-of-show? (What it tests: Production judgement: safety, the guest, and the audience.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Media and Communications degree?

Common starting roles include communications assistant, social media coordinator, pR assistant and production assistant. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Media, journalism and communications graduates in work were information and communication (20.2%), professional, scientific and technical services (14.2%) and wholesale and retail (12.5%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Media and Communications graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Media and Communications graduates of £21,600 one year after graduating, £25,600 three years after graduating, £27,400 five years after graduating and £32,600 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Media and Communications degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 85.5% of Media and Communications graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £27,400. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Media and Communications 129 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Media, journalism and communications graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Media, journalism and communications were at Loughborough University (£40,300), Goldsmiths, University of London (£36,600) and King's College London (£32,900). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Media and Communications in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Media%20and%20Communications